Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
A big part of the upgrades has been ensuring these systems can use two types of data transmission so if, for example, the cellular networks become overloaded in a flood event, we can access the data through satellite or radio instead.
Previously, some sites, such as the Kowhai River in Kaikōura only had one water level recorder and one rain gauge, putting it at risk. We are using dual sensors and recorders, sometimes using multiple sites within a catchment and using external cellular and satellite providers where possible to safeguard communications avenues.
“We are building resiliency and redundancy into the network,” Anthony said.
“It’s about not putting all your eggs in one basket so we can maintain our monitoring capabilities in the case of extreme events.”
We have identified more than 30 locations across the network which would benefit from being upgraded to a ‘one in 200-year’ event. Five of these upgrades have now been completed.
“Resourcing has been our biggest hurdle, particularly as we were hit by later rainfall events, including further damage from the July 2022 floods in Omarama,” Anthony said.
Funding for climate change-induced weather
Climate change-induced events across the country have highlighted the urgent need to continue investing in flood protection infrastructure, including works such as the upgrading of our water level monitoring equipment.
Co-investing with central government means being able to continue with important flood protection and related works such as the upgrade to our water level monitoring network, projects that would have otherwise taken decades to fund through the current rating districts and undertake works to protect communities from changes that we know are coming, benefiting communities both now and for the future.
Read the call from Te Uru Kahika to Central Government for long-term co-investment.
